Suspension lacing for protective helmets



Nov. 18, 1952 A. L. ALESI SUSPENSION LACING FOR PROTECTIVE HELMETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April '7, 1950 32 jnfom/ jze INVENTOR J'll BY Qy mk ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1952 A. L. ALESI 2,617,988 SUSPENSION LACING FOR PROTECTIVE HELMETS A 'foRNEY Nov. 18, 1952 A. ALESI SUSPENSION LACING FOR PROTECTIVE HELMETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 7, 1950 INVENTOR om L 1/ a ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 1 8, 1952 UNITED STATES TE T OFFICE 2,617,988 sUs 'PENsmN meme FOR'PRQTEQTWE "HELMETS Atithehy L. Ateei, Philadelphia, a Ahhheatieh April 7, 1950, seria e; 154,791

ze-chtims- (G1. 27 (eiehtea itter t e gm of Mezee iss'ants ethehhea A p'fcil 30, 1928; 3 70 0. G. 757) The invention described herein, if et htetl; may be mangfact red and used by or feythe in e nment r ve nmenta iir e e W th u e'b m t to m of ny rbtt l hereon Since th in entien th fir t helm m ehns We b P Q EQ P s ac .t otlfi r im tpt v sheli emehem ad if th wearer W ereby to, prevent tbreilsthjgs ic n f the shogk'e received. by the shell. A well kndwrjfdrt ofgtisueh Qrt ezt s is to support the shell fr'q'rh a hel met sus pexielon which may comprise a cradle resting atop the Wearers head and a sweat barid e 1L1 511w:l i 'gthe head. The sweatloan d and the top 9f the eradle are, spaced from the shell by a. variety of spacing m ans;- t v t v Commonly, the swel-tbaghd is epgee'd frqm the shell in zihy stiitable manner gndfthe lower edges of the eiajdle are sebii rd iiii titly tb the ehell. E'iia thpies (if this st'hictur'ealre seeh ih thepate ts to sheliet ale N o. 2 ,-37 1,-' I 12 of Me jhgp, 1945; Hidden, No. 2,259,275, dated Ji1 1y 2 2, 194:1; al hcl Ridden, No; 2,35953'8-7; dated pct b r 3, m4. ereeve r, i'naEIIbf these batents the sweatbahd isspaeed fr oifii the shellhy secfilil'lg sptqed p oi r lts ete; tee-t exthle member to the i terim r t e shelltoliirovide an endless ser es of ghpids gtb'otit the ifite'r'i'ql df thiashllehd thereafter seeming hetc'dpoints of the sWea-tband to the medial ijdiii-t Qf the chb'i d s. 'The" lower edges of the 'ci fidle' dre ar ichb'red titiectljfto theshelL- This structure provides ed sidey hie res'tliefiity in the sweatbafid bqt iinpgutsfnqne whatever to the cradle; Moreover, py merely anchoring sptt'ied poihts or t e exibl gm her to theshen,

' hopr'ote'etion is protgi qed at the anchored points of the flexible memh rtegeept by stretc ing the sweatband thereaerqss. "Ifhu's, there is danger of providing too much ie siliehc'y the supbbrt wheliebya heavy blow in the region of ohe such ahchp'rpoint may result in contact (if the helmet shell atsuch point withthe head. Ridden recbgnized this weakne s s taind has sought to cdfre'ct it in Pj atent No. 2,359,387, suprawherih aseehd fieiiible member has b'eil Iseeufd td the first flQXlblfi m mber and in tiirh shppdrtfs the sweatband. However; this structufe ddubles the cq'st er the ew etbeha silpl oft ehd tlc'; requ res; the overallLdiarhetehdf/ the shell t6 be incl egts d. Mqree 'lf'efilthe 13115-1011 aiftqsr'ics the sweetband from the shelliahd'qhr'its thevldhiei' edge ot the cradle 66 thefshel l, thus, 6h1y' the to pdf the 'the a 1 ohiet it ;te et tiee a 'h i hiyed jjiirt aitt t i Y ja i Figure E3 is a perspective view of a modified form of cradle strap, parts being broken away; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a sweatband according to the invention, parts being cut away and shown in transverse, vertical section.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used through out the several views to designate like parts, and referring at first to Figure 1, It designates generally any suitable helmet having a crown portion or shell 1 l and a brim portion l2.

To space the shell II from the head of the wearer, there has been provided a helmet suspension such as the sweatband l3 and a cradle generally indicated at l l. It is to be understood that the helmet suspension may be of any suitable form, whereby the structures shown and described are illustrative only. With this in view, the sweatband [3, see Figure 9, may comprise a body 15 of any suitable cushioning or absorbent material such as felt or sponge rubber. The inner surface of the body [5 is covered with a strip it of any suitable material, such as leather, plastic or the like which also may overlie the upper edge of the body l5, as at I1, and the upper portion of the outer surface of the body l5, as at l3. The outer surface of the body I5 may be covered by a strip IQ of any suitable material, the lower edge of which may be secured to the body in any suitable manner as by the stitching 20. The upper edge of strip 19 may underlie the down-turned edge l8 of strip I5 and be secured thereto and to the body I5 as by the stitching 2|. Preferably, the outer covering strip I9 is formed with a plurality of pairs of horizontally aligned lacing eyes 22 which may be lined with eyelets 23. The purpose of the eyes 22 will be apparent hereinafter.

By way of example, the cradle IA, illustrated in Figures 1-5 and 7 or the cradle M of Figure 6, comprises a plurality of substantially identical cradle straps 24, the upper ends of which are formed to provide tunnels 25 for a flexible loop 26 whereby the upper ends of the straps are connected together. The lower ends of the straps 24 are each formed with a pair of horizontally aligned lacing eyes 21 or other equivalent attaching means, the purpose of which will be apparent hereinafter.

Figure 8 illustrates a modified form of cradle strap wherein a strap 24 is doubled on itself to form a tunnel 25' at the doubled end. The lower ends of the strap 2Q may be hemmed as at 28 and connected together by eyelets 29 providing lacing eyes 27. Obviously other forms of cradle and/or cradle straps may be utilized.

To support the sweatband l3 and cradles l4 and I4, there has been provided an elongated flexible member 30 which is connected to the shell H of the helmet ID in any suitable manner so as to provide an endless series of chords or chordal portions 3! around the interior of the shell H. The member 30 may be a band or a lace. In the form illustrated the member 30 is a lace and is connected to the shell II by being laced through a plurality of pairs of lacing eyes 32 formed therethrough or other equivalent connecting means. It should be noted that the pairs 1 of lacing eyes are not necessarily uniformally spaced from each other whereby some chords 3! may be longer than others. Obviously, such spacing could be uniform if desired.

While it would be possible to accomplish one purpose of the invention by mounting the fieXible member 38 so as to achieve the end-to-end chord arrangement of the Scholl et al. and Riddell patents, supra, I prefer to anchor the flexible member with a series of loops having crossing ends wherein the bights 33 thereof are anchored to the shell H and the crossing ends form the chords 3|. Thus, the ends of each chord 3| overlap the adjacent ends of both adjacent chords 3| to provide continuous working portions of the member 30 which are spaced from the shell ll. Such working portions comprise the portions of each chord 3| which are between the intersections with adjacent chords. Moreover, it is preferred that alternate chords 3| lie wholly above intermediate chords so that upward flexing of such alternate chords will not be impeded by engagement with such intermediate chords. Conversely, this arrangement serves to retard upward flexing of such intermediate chords.

The foregoing structure permits the flexible member 30 to be connected to the sweatband l3 and to the lower edges of the cradle l4 in a variety of ways to achieve different degrees of resiliency or flexibility in the support. Some of such ways are illustrated in the drawing.

In Figure l, for instance, the lower ends of the cradle straps 24 are laced to certain chords 3! which are also laced to the sweatband l3, which may be laced at additional points to the member 30 as well.

Figure 5 shows an arrangement wherein the straps 24 are laced to chords 3! which lie between chords 3! which are laced to the sweatband [3. Figure 6 is to the same effect although there the number of cradle straps 24 is such that every alternate chord supports a cradle strap while every intermediate chord is connected to the sweatband. In all arrangements where the cradle is connected to a plurality of chords the upward flexing of the cradle can be enhanced by connecting the same to chords which lie wholly above adjacent chords (Fig. 5); retarded by connecting the cradle to chords lying wholly below adjacent chords (Fig. 6); or a mixed effect can be achieved as in Figure 1, whereby the rearmost supporting chords 3! are freely upwardly flexible while upward flexibility of the foremost supporting chord is retarded. Further modifications of the arrangement are obvious.

It should be noted also that the laced connection illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and 6 is a sliding connection whereby full advantage of the flexible support may be taken without binding o buckling of the straps or sweatband.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate three additional ways of connecting the cradle M to the shell H. Thus, in Figure 2, a cradle strap 24 is relatively tightly connected to the shell II by being laced to the bights 33 of two adjacent loops of alternate chords 3! A slightly looser or medium tight connection is achieved in Figure 3 where the strap 24 is connected to one bight 33 and to an adjacent chord. A still looser or medium loose connection occurs in Figure 4 where the strap 24 is laced to two adjacent chords. The most flexible or resilient connection occurs, of course, where each strap 24 is connected to a single chord 3| as in Figures 1, 5 and 6.

However, the connection between the cradle I 1 and the shell ll may be of different degrees of tightness or resiliency at different points around the shell. For example, in Figure 7, one of the cradle straps 24 is loosely connected manner disclosed by Figure 3. Obviously, further variations utilizing these connections, the tight connection of Figure 2 or the mediumloose connection of Figure 4, will. occur to those skilled in. the m whereby iti thought tobe unnecessary to specifically describev them or illustrate them in the drawing.

It is to be notedthatit, is unnecessary to.con nect the sweatband I3 orcradle 43110 every ,chord 3150f the flexible member 39. For instance in Figures; 1, 5 and 7, certain chords 3] are not connected to eithersweatbandlor cradle. N evertheless, such chords 31' are locatedto engage the sweatband is with a shock absorbing engagement when the necessity arises. However it is contemplatedthat the sweatband l3 will be pro vided with a suflicient number of ,pairso'i lacing eyes 22 orlother connecting means which are so locatedas to permit the attachment of the sweatband to any or ever-y chord 3| or 3| if desired. In like manner, any usablenumber of cradle straps 24 may be provided or even a cradle wherein the lower ends of the straps are joined together by a band (not shown) in which any desired number of pairs of lacing eyes 2.? are formed, whereby the cradle also could be connected to any or all of vthechords.

Obviously, the device of the invention is capable of great flexibility in use tomeet specific needs. Moreover, further variations in tightness or resiliency may be achieved by tightening or loosening the flexible memberii] which may be a lace with the ends tied together. Likewise, where the member. 26, which connects the upper ends of the cradle straps 24, is a lace, adjustment of such straps is possible by loosening or tightening such lace. Diirerent head sizes may readily be obtained merely by utilizing a plurality of differently sized sweatbands I3 or by utilizing a single-size band which is adjustable .as to size in any of a number of well known ways.

Thus, while I have shown and described What is now thought to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the 1. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combination with .a sweatband and a cradle comprising a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said shell, means connecting spaced portions of said member to said shell toprovide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said shell interior, said chordal. portions having-opposite end portions OIOSSlIlg adjacent end portions of adjacent choral portions to provide medial areas of said chordal portions lying between said crossedend portions, means connecting medial areas of certain spacedchordal portions to said ,sweatband, and means connecting said free endsct said cradle straps to me:- dial area ofcertainother spaced chordalpon tions said last named spaced chordalportions being; located intermediate those to which said weatb ndi c nec d:

2; In :a protective helmet shellhavingan arcuate interior, the combination with a sweatband 6.. and a. cradle comprisingajplurality of cradle straps havingffre'e lower ends; of an elongated lace for adjustably connecting said sweatband and said free ends ofsaid cradle straps to said shell, said shell being formed with a series of lacing eyes therearound, said. lace being laced through, said eyesto provide an endless series of chordal-portions around the interior of said 'hfilmet, said-lacebeing so laced through said lacing eyes that the ends of each chordal portion cross the adjacent ends of two adjacent chordal portions, said sweatband and said free ends of said cradle straps being formed with lacing eyes, certain spaced chordal portions of said lace being laced through lacing eyes of saidsweatband, and at least some intermediate spaced chordal portions of said lace being laced through said lacing eyes of said free ends of said cradle straps.

3. In a protective helmet shellhaving an arcuate interior,v the combination with. asweatband and a, cradle comprising a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interiorof said shell, means connecting spaced portions of said member to said shell to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said shell interior, said flexible member being so connected to said shell that the ends of each chordal portion cross the ends of the two adjacent chordal portions, alternate chordal'portions being connected to said vsweatband, and the intermediate chordal portions being connected to said free ends oi said cradle straps so as to support the latter in inwardly spaced relation to said shell.

4. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combinationiwith a sweatband and a cradle comprising a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated lace for adjustably connecting said sweatband and said free ends of saidcradle straps to said shell, said shell being. formed, with a series of lacing eyes therearound, said lace being laced through said eyes to provide a, plurality of spaced loops, eachloop including a bight which encircles a portion of said shell between adjacent lacing eyes in the latter whereby the ends of each bight cross to provide an endless series of overlapped chordal portions about the interior ofsaidshell, said sweatband and said free ends'of said cradle straps being formed with lacing eyes, certain spaced chordal portions of said lace being laced through said lacing eyes of said sweatband,- and at least some intermediate spaced chord-alportions of said lace being laced through said lacing eyes of said free ends of said cradle straps.

5. Inc. protective helmet shell having. anarcuateinterior, the combination. with a sweatband and a cradle comprising a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated lace for adjustably connecting saidsweatb'and and said free ends of said cradle straps to said shell, said shell being formed with a series of lacing eyestherearound, said lace bein laced. through said'eyes to provide a plurality of spaced loops, each loop including a bight which encircles. a portion of said shell between adjacent lacing eyes whereby the ends ofeach bight cross to pro,- videan endless series of overlapped chordalportions about the interior of said shell, said sweatband and said free ends of. said cradle straps being formed with lacing eyes, certain spaced chordal portions of said lace being laced through lacing eyes of said sweatband, andat least some of said certain spaced chordal portions being also laced through said lacing eyes of said cradle straps to connect said cradle and sweatband to said shell in spaced relation to the interior thereof.

6. The structure of claim 5, and said certain spaced chordal portions which are connected both to said sweatband and to said cradle straps being located to cross the adjacent end portions of adjacent chordal portions above the planes of such adjacent chordal portions to permit free upward flexing of the cradle and sweatband supporting chordal portions.

7. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combination with a cradle comprising a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said shell, spaced portions of said member being connected to said shell to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of the shell interior, said flexible member being so connected to said shell that the ends of each chordal portion cross the ends of the two adjacent chordal portions, and said free ends of said straps being connected to chordal portions of said flexible member intermediate the crossed ends of such chordal portions whereby to connect said cradle to said shell in spaced relation thereto.

8. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combination with a flexible cradle having free lower edge portions; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said shell, spaced portions of said member being connected to said shell to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of the shell interior, said flexible member being so connected to said shell that the ends of each chordal portion cross shell that of the two adjacent chordal portions, and said lower edge portions of said cradle being connected to chordal portions of said flexible member intermediate the crossed ends of such chordal portions whereby to connect said cradle to said shell in spaced relation thereto.

9. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combination with a cradle including a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated lace for adjustably connecting said cradle to said shell, said shell being formed with a series of lacing eyes therearound, said lace being laced through said eyes to provide a series of spaced loops, each loop including a bight which encircles a portion of said shell between adjacent lacing eyes, whereby the ends of each bight cross to provide an endless series of overlapped chordal portions about the interior of said shell, said free ends of said cradle straps each being formed with a pair of laterally spaced lace-engaging portions, and at least one cradle strap being laced to a pair of adjacent chordal portions whereby to connect said cradle straps to said shell in spaced relation thereto.

10. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combination with a cradle including a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated lace for adjustably connecting said cradle to said shell, said shell being formed with a series of lacin eyes therearound, said lace being laced through said eyes to provide a series of spaced loops, each loop including a bight which encircles a portion of said shell between adjacent lacing eyes, whereby the ends of each bight cross to provide an endless series of overlapped chordal portions about the interior of said shell, said free ends of said cradle straps each being iormed with a pair of laterally spaced lace-engaging portions, and at least one cradle strap being laced by one lace engaging means to a bight of one of said loops and by the other lace engaging means to a chordal portion adjacent such bight.

11. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combination with a cradle including a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated lace for adjustably connecting said cradle to said shell, said shell being formed with a series of lacing eyes therearound, said lace being laced through said eyes to provide a series of spaced loops, each loop including a bight which encircles a portion of said shell between adjacent lacing eyes, whereby the ends of each bight cross to provide an endless series of overlapped chordal portions about the interior of said shell, said free ends of said cradle straps each being formed with a pair of laterally spaced lace-engaging portions, and at least one cradle strap being laced by one lace engaging means to a bight of one of said loops and by the other lace engaging means to a bight of an adjacent loop whereby to connect said cradle straps substantially tightly to said shell.

12. In a protective helmet shell having an arcnate interior, the combination with a sweatband and a cradle comprising a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said shell, means connecting spaced portions of said member to said shell to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said shell interior, means connecting spaced chordal portions to said sweatband to connect the same to said shell in inwardly spaced relation to the interior thereof, the remaining chordal portions of said flexible member being unconnected to said sweatband but being positioned to bear at times against the exterior of said sweatband to supplement the action of said first mentioned chordal portions, and means connecting said flexible member to said free lower ends of said cradle straps.

13. In a protective helmet shell having an arcuate interior, the combination with a sweatband and a cradle comprising a plurality of cradle straps having free lower ends; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said shell, means connecting spaced portions of said member to said shell to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said shell interior, means connecting spaced chordal portions to said sweatband to connect the same to said shell in inwardly spaced relation to the interior thereof, the remaining chordal portions of said flexible member being unconnected to said sweatband but being positioned to bear at times against the exterior of said sweatband to supplement the action of said first mentioned chordal portions, and means connecting spaced chordal portions of said flexible member to said free lower ends of said cradle straps, whereby to connect said cradle to said shell in spaced relation to the interior thereof.

14. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, the combination with a sweatband and a cradle for supporting a head in inwardly spaced relation to said helmet; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said helmet for connecting said sweatband and said cradle to said helmet, means connecting spaced portions of said flexible member to said helmet to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said helmet interior, and said flexible member being so connected to said helmet that the ends of each chorda1 portion cross the adjacent ends of the two adjacent chordal portions to provide an endless series of medial areas of said chordal portions extending entirely around the interior of said helmet in radially inwardly spaced relation thereto, and means connecting at least some of said medial areas to said sweatband and cradle.

15. The structure of claim 14, in which said helmet is formed with a series of lacing eyes therearound to provide said means connecting said flexible member to said helmet, and wherein said flexible member comprises a lace laced through said lacing eyes.

16. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, said helmet being formed with a series of spaced lacing eyes therearound, an elongated lace, said lace being laced through said eyes to provide a plurality of spaced bights, each bight encircling a helmet portion between a pair of adjacent eyes and having crossing ends inwardly of said helmet to provide an endless series of overlapping chordal portions about the interior of said helmet, and said chordal portions providing means for supporting a sweatband and a cradle in inwardly spaced relation 7 to said helmet.

17. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, an elongated flexible member, means connecting spaced portions of said flexible member to said helmet to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said helmet interior, and each chorda1 portion being disposed in overlapping relation to the two adjacent chordal portions to provide an endless series of medial areas of said chordal portions extending entirely around the interior of said helmet in radially inwardly spaced relation thereto, and said medial areas comprising means for supporting a sweatband and a cradle in said helmet.

18. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, the combination with a sweatband for supporting a head in inwardly spaced relation to said helmet; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said helmet for connecting said sweatband to said helmet, means connecting spaced portions of said flexible member to said helmet to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said helmet interior, said flexible member being so connected to said helmet that the ends of each chordal portion cross the adjacent ends of the two adjacent chordal portions to provide an endless series of medial areas of said chordal portions extending entirely around the interior of said helmet in radially inwardly spaced relation thereto, and means .connecting at least some of said medial areas to said sweatband to connect the latter to said helmet in inwardly spaced relation thereto.

19. The structure of claim 18, in which said helmet is formed with a series of lacing eyes therearound to provide said means connecting said flexible member to said helmet, and wherein said flexible member comprises a lace laced through said lacing eyes.

20. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, the combination with a cradle for supporting a head in inwardly spaced relation to said helmet; of an elongated flexible member extending about the interior of said helmet for connecting said cradle to said helmet, means connecting spaced portions of said flexible member to said helmet to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said helmet interior, said flexible member being so connected to said helmet that the ends of each chordal portion cross the adjacent ends of the two adjacent chordal portions to provide an endless series of medial areas of said chordal portions extending entirely around the interior of said helmet in radially inwardly spaced relation thereto, and means connecting at least some of said medial areas to said cradle to connect the latter to said helmet in inwardly spaced relation thereto.

21. The structure of claim 20, in which said helmet is formed with a series of lacing eyes therearound to provide said means connecting said flexible member to said helmet, and wherein said flexible member comprises a lace laced through said lacing eyes.

22. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, an elongated flexible member, means v connecting spaced portions of said flexible member to said helmet to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said helmet interior, and each of said chordal portions crossing at least two adjacent chordal portions, whereby to provide an endless series of chordal portion medial areas extending entirely around said helmet interior in radially inwardly spaced relation thereto, said chordal portions providing means for supporting a helmet suspension in said helmet in inwardly spaced relation thereto.

23. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, said helmet being formed with a series of spaced lacing eyes therearound, an elongated lace laced through said eyes to provide an endless series of chordal portions spanning arcuate portions of said helmet interior, and each of said chordal portions crossing at least two adjacent chordal portions, whereby to provide an endless series of chordal portion medial areas extending entirely around said helmet interior in radially inwardly spaced relation thereto, said chordal portions providing means for supporting a helmet suspension in said helmet in inwardly spaced relation thereto.

24. In a protective helmet having an arcuate interior, flexible suspension means therefor, said means comprising flexible means spanning arcuate portions of said helmet interior to provide an endless series of chordal portions, and each chordal portion crossing at least two adjacent chordal portions to provide an endless series of medial areas of said chordal portions extending entirely around said helmet interior in radially inwardly spaced relation thereto, said chordal portions providing means for supporting a helmet suspension in said helmet in inwardly spaced relation thereto.

ANTHONY L.-ALESI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Riddell July 22, 1941 

